PNB CHAIRMAN RETIRES, ZETI TO TAKE OVER
Wahid also retiring as trustee of Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputera
TAN Sri Abdul Wahid Omar is retiring as Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) chairman with effect from today. PNB said former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz would replace Wahid from tomorrow.
The country’s largest fund manager announced that Wahid was also retiring as a trustee of its parent company, Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputera (YBP).
“The board of directors of PNB would like to take the opportunity to thank Tan Sri Abdul Wahid for his invaluable contribution and dedicated service as the group chairman.
“The boards of YPB and PNB welcome the appointment of Tan Sri Dr Zeti and express confidence, given her longstanding and vast experience, she will continue to provide strong leadership to the PNB group in pursuing its founding mandate to enhance corporate wealth for the benefit of Malaysians,” PNB said in a statement yesterday.
Zeti is a member of the Council of Eminent Persons, entrusted to advise the government on matters pertaining to economy and finance.
Wahid was appointed as PNB chairman on Aug 1, 2016, replacing Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid. He was Malayan Banking Bhd chief executive officer before being appointed by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to lead the Economic Planning Unit.
He was also Telekom Malaysia Bhd group CEO from July 2004 until its separation with Axiata Group Bhd in April 2008.
It was speculated that the government’s new administration was unhappy with Wahid’s statement defending the Goods and Services Tax during the 14th General Election campaign.
PNB said Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc) had informed that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had assumed YPB chairmanship from Thursday.
Pursuant to the appointment, the composition of YBP’s board of trustees had been restructured to comprise Economic Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Zeti and former auditor general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang.
Wahid congratulated Zeti on her appointment as the fourth PNB chairman since it was set up in 1978.
“I believe under the leadership of Tan Sri Zeti as chairman and Datuk Abdul Rahman as president and group chief executive, PNB will continue to succeed until it achieves its aspiration to become a world-class investment company.”
Datuk Dr Mazlan Ismail yesterday confirmed his resignation as Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chief operating officer.
“That’s true, but it is best that I hold my comments at the moment to avoid confrontation with the minister (Gobind Singh Deo),” he told The New Straits Times Press here yesterday.
The Communications and Multimedia ministry reportedly also received a resignation letter from MCMC chairman Tan Sri Dr Halim Shafie and two other senior officers of the commission who resigned on Monday.
Mazlan said he wanted to leave the office with a good reputation.
His resignation will take effect tomorrow, despite two years left on his contract with MCMC.